Process for the production of new ester mixtures



Patented Sept 27, 19 27.

UNITED STATES WALTHER' CLAASEN, OF COLOGNE-ON-THE-RHIE'E, GERMANY.

PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NEW ESTER MIXTURES.

No Drawing. Application filed March 17, '1926, Serial No. 95,469, and in Germany April 14, 1925.

It is known to produce adipic acid by oxidizing the cyclohexanol formed by the hydrogenation of pure phenol. The purposes for which the product obtained in this 5 manner can be employed are however limited,

into their components and after being esterified together with aliphatic, aromatic or cyclic alcohols possesses outstanding properties for technical purposes of the most varied nature.

By using for esterification purposes the whole acid mixture formed by oxidation, the final yield of the new ester mixture is naturally considerably increased, which in conjunction with the cheapness of the crude cresol hitherto not employed for the purposes in view, has a decided influence upon the cost and consequently upon the possibility of technical exploitation.

en the ester mixtures referred to are to used as camphor substitutes, extremely valuable products are obtained which cannot be distinguished in colour an stability, toughness, ductility and buckling resistance from celluloid produced with camphor. Their cheapness however gives them a considerable advantage over the camphor celluloid. Owing to the aforementioned properties, these ester mixtures hitherto unknown, are new products of high commercial value.

For reparin the same, the 'acid mixture.

obtaine by oxi izin the methyl-cyclohexa'- nols is treated accor ing to known methodswith the alcohols concerned, in the presence of a mineral acid and the esters areseparated from the reaction mixture 1n the usual man- -ner.

The general reactions are as follows OH CH: OH: CH(OH) ClH4 OH H, H, 0 H HNO: Cresol Methylcyclohexanol on, coon on, (00011 HI H: COOH CH: COOH Suoalnlc acid Glutarlc acid CH|-OH(CH )-O0;H onwno-om-com HQ-GHj-COIH HrOHa-COaH m-Methyladlpic acid 8-Methyladlplc acid It will be seen that a mixture of various esters is obtained and it is this mixture which is subjected to esterification without separation of the various esters in a state of purity.

Examples.

1 114 gs. of the methyl. cyclohexanols formed by catalytic hydrogenation from crude cresols are dropped into 684 gs. of boiling nitric acid of the density 1,2. Aftel the conversion has taken place, evaporation to dryness isv carried out and the remaining viscous syrup of the various acids is dissolved inthree times the amount of ethyl alcohol, which is mixed with 3% gaseous hydrochloric acid. After boiling in the reflux condenser for several hours, the mixture -1s poured into water, separated in the separating funnel, and the ester washed with a dilute sodasolution for the purpose of separating the acid ester forming at the same time. The boiling point of the ester mixture is 124=150 at 12 mm. pressure. The esters consist of a colourless sweet smelling liquid.

2. Themethyl cyclohexyl esters formed in a similar manner by the esterification of the' rrcid mixture by means of methyl cyclohexanols azzonsist of a viscous oil having a notunpleasa'nt smell. The boiling point is 214. 24? at 9 mm. pressure.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in' what manner the same is to beperformed, I declare that what I claim is 2- 1. The process of preparing esters of mixtures of adipic acids which comprises oxidizhexahydrocresols to form a mixture of acids ing hydro enated crude cresols to form mixand esterifying the acid mixture without tures of a ipic acids and esterifying the acid preliminary separation of the mixture into 1 mixture without preliminary separation of its components. 5 the mixture into its components. v In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 2. The process of preparing esters of mixed 1 organic acids which comprises oxidizing 'DR. WALTHER CLAASEN. 

